A MBE is the lowest of the five grades in the Order of the British Empire. Only the top two (Knight/Dame Grand Cross & Knight/Dame Commander) are given the "Dame" (or "Sir") honorific. The order is divided into civil and military parts but there's no difference in the titles between the two.

MBE does indeed have a civilian and military differential. Strange to attempt to equate John Lennon's award with our illustrious battle-tested Cpl and Dog. Not to belittle either awardee; the MBE must be equivalent to a BSM with V and without. (?) Neither will get you into The Club with the nice china and silver for free.

I actually think that our President has lots of potential, unlike his predecessor. It was just a poor attempt at a joke.

Although one must wonder what the line of thinking was on naming the dog that. Reminds me of the third Indiana Jones movie, when Sir Sean Connery says to Harrison Ford....we named the dog Indiana!

Wikipedia is pretty good about the five grades: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Order_of_the_British_Empire

The Order of the British Empire is part the chivalry system whereas the Victoria Cross is a decoration. Kind of a group membership vs individual award.

I agree with you wholeheartedly with the class thing. Even the term of their EM's ("other ranks") comes across as dismissive. I chose it as a moniker here out of affection for the British squaddie and a reminder (to myself) that too often we seem to harbor vestigial aristocratic notions of some innate difference and worth between O's and E's on this side of the Atlantic, too.

I fully agree with you. In fact, to be completely politically-incorrect, I must confess that I was sickened by all the hoopla heaped on Schwartzkopf after the 1st Gulf War. It was like he was our generation's Guderian or von Rundstedt. And of course, he soaked it all up, even though he was sitting in an air-conditioned bunker while the whole, short campaign unfolded, a campaign that was planned by his staff, not by him.

In my humble opinion, it's easy for a general to come up with grand plans. It's up to the grunts to execute and pay the price in grief and blood. If a battle or war goes well, let's heap praise on the people who really executed, not the brass sitting in the rear.

If Schwarzkopf had really pooched it up we would have held him accountable? So give him the little bit of credit he deserves. Tis true the soldiers on the ground did the heavy lifting, but the General and his team had to make the plan and resource it.

It's a team effort. So let the team take credit, each for their small part. I'd rather we put less emphasis on what the so-called "Great man" is doing in leadership of the service, but that means that each individual has to act together as individuals for their portion of the problem. Can't have it both ways.

Do you think the dog cares what his name is? He cares about being loved, fed and making his owner happy…….However I can’t help but see the Irony of “Obama” serving in Afghanistan! Pretty funny!